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Follow the leader?
Whenever First Round Capital holds a party, we sometimes get emails from a few of our guests asking if they can bring another person with them. Maybe a VC friend of ours wants to bring another partner with him. Maybe it's an entrepreneur who wants to bring a new executive hire. Maybe it's someone who works at Facebook and wants to bring a co-worker. Unless we're dealing with a venue that has a limited space, we typically are fine with the extra guests. It's a great way to expand our network – and meet new, interesting people. The few times we weren't able to accommodate those requests typically were due to hard constraints (either budgetary or the size of the venue). And when we don't have room, we tell that to the person who asked – and they typically are very understanding.
I just read my friend, Roger Ehrenberg's, latest blog post on syndicating seed rounds – and totally agree with his main conclusion (that rounds tend to work best if there is a lead investor to represent the interests of the syndicate). But the most meaningful part of Roger's post, in my opinion, is when he writes about how a syndicate gets chosen. Specifically, he writes: 'One can have a reasoned discussion concerning capacity, etc., but fundamentally if an entrepreneur wants a particular investor in I am going to make room – period.' I could not agree more. I think that the entrepreneur should be the "decider" on the syndicate – not the lead investor. The lead investor should help establish terms, provide feedback and input on potential co-investors, and bring other investors to the table if asked/needed – but the lead investor should not force a syndicate on the entrepreneur.
If I'd react badly to a guest trying to force me to let another guest into my party for a few hours (ie, "the only way I'll come is if you let this stranger in"), I can only imagine how badly I'd react if I was an entrepreneur that was forced to spend the next 5+ years with someone I don't want. In my view the lead investor should offer feedback and offer introductions – but ultimately should follow the founder's lead on syndicate composition. If the founder wants certain angels to participate – done. If the founder thinks that a certain fund could add value – done.
Just like I think that financing rounds should be based on company math (as opposed to venture math), I think the syndication decision belongs with the founder (as opposed to the investor). The founder should be free to choose the investors that increase the company's odds of success. And building a syndicate is the entrepreneur's opportunity to figure out who the founder wants to spend time with, who the founder respects, and who the founder thinks can help the company the most.Oftentimes the first strategic discussion that a lead investor gets to collaborate with a founder on is the discussion around the syndicate. And while I'd clearly expect a reasoned conversation to occur, I believe that an early stage investor is funding a company because they believe in the entrepreneur's ability to make strategic decisions and to optimize for success. And ultimately, it should be the investor who follows the founder's lead when it comes to syndicate composition (and not the other way around).


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The 100,000 trade union health and safety representatives in UK workplaces are a major contributing factor to reducing injuries and ill-health at work, according to a new report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The report, The Union Effect: How unions make a difference on health and safety, reviews research that finds there are 24% fewer incidents in workplaces with recognised unions compared with those that do not.
Staff were found to be twice as likely to have received safety and health training in the previous year if a union was present in their workplace, and were also more willing to report hazards.
By reducing the number of days lost to work-related illness by more than 286,000, safety reps are estimated to save the economy more than £181m, the TUC says.
The TUC and BWI affiliates GMB, UNITE and UCATT have raised concerns that the government's (anti) Trade Union Bill, which will cap the amount of time public sector trade union reps can spend protecting and supporting members, will put other workers and the public at risk.
Please click here for more information.

subset: commoncrawl


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John Lee Dumas: From Corporate Job to Entrepreneur
Before John Lee Dumas launched Entrepreneurs on Fire, he was… miserable. John had what from the outside looked like a nice shiny job in corporate finance, but on the inside, the whole scene was driving him nuts. He felt trapped, and to break free, he jumped into the deep end and started a business whose sole purpose was helping other people start their business.
The first 13 months of this project were pretty underwhelming, as he'll explain, but he kept at it, kept at it, and eventually… ka-ching.
John now makes six figures a month from Entrepreneurs on Fire, and he joined us to talk about that success, sure, but also the self-doubt that used to haunt him, the morning routine that does religiously to keep his inner game in check, and how he knew it was time to ditch his steady, stable life and launch something of his own.
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Start Yours is a podcast about ecommerce, dropshipping, and all things launching a business.
Join us as we meet entrepreneurs who have gone through the triumphs and headaches of running an online store, and learn how they managed to survive and thrive.
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Start your free trialHow to Approach Entrepreneurship
David: So one of the things that's interesting about your podcast and just your approach to entrepreneurship in general, is the emphasis that you put on taking care of your mind. And this might sound slightly counterintuitive to people who see entrepreneurship as purely about passive income and crushing goals and the digital nomad lifestyle. And you definitely hit on all that stuff, but you also talk about the importance of gratitude, for example, and you even have a second podcast called The Daily Refresh: Quotes, Gratitude, Breathing.
So I wanted to start by asking you about this relationship between taking care of your mind and your spirit, on the one hand, and the side hustle mentality on the other hand, why is something like guided breathing in the same ballpark as something like revenue goals?
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John Lee Dumas: Well, first off, thanks for having me on the show. Much appreciated. Looking forward to dropping some value bombs for your listeners here today. And for me, it's all about the inner game is a reflection of your outer game. If you don't have your inner game on point, if you don't have your inner game squared away, then your outer game is going to reflect that. Period, end of story.
For me, it all starts with my 90-minute morning routine. I am passionate about hitting five things every morning: hydration, exercise, sauna, journaling, meditation. I need to hit those five things. That's going to allow me to give myself the self-care, the inner game, clarity, and relaxation, and focus. So that then when I shift from my 90-minute morning routine into my actual "workday", I'm ready to go. And it shows.
People say, "John, I saw your Instagram story, the other day, you did 27 interviews on other shows in one day?" And I said, "Yes, I did," 'cause guess what? I prepared myself for it. It's like the Super Bowl. Do you think Tom Brady wakes up when it's time for another Super Bowl ring and he just kind of like half-asses it? No, of course not. He absolutely has his pre-game rituals, his pre-game routines so he is mentally clear for what's coming ahead. He knows it. I know what's coming ahead.
So those 27 interviews for me, I'm prepped, I'm ready to rock. And guess what? The following day, I probably have nothing on my schedule because I've set it up that way because I need time to take a step back, to not talk, to relax, to be introverted. But on that day of 27 interviews, I am up for the challenge, each and every one, because of my inner game.
John Lee Dumas Outlook on Mindfulness
David: I can imagine that lots of people who wanna get into ecommerce, for example, they might think, "Okay, I need to spend 50 percent of my time researching products and 50 percent of my time studying Facebook ads," and they might consider stuff like mindful breathing practices to be a luxury or something that might be a little bit of a waste of time. Do you think that there's an appropriate amount of respect in the entrepreneurship space for breathing and calmness and this inner game that you're talking about?
JLD: 100 percent. That kind of attitude that you were describing before are people setting themselves up for potential short-term success and long-term failure. The people that are gonna really win in the entrepreneurship game are looking for long-term success. They're gonna be around one, three, five, seven, which is what I've been around for so long and still driving strong 10, 15, 30, 50 years. That needs to be the goal. And of course, you're gonna evolve and change and do different things over that timeframe. But if you are going to have that well-rounded long-term success, it's going to include that deep breathing, that meditation, that self-reflection, and that journaling. Those assets, they keep your inner game strong.
David: What do you journal about?
JLD: Whatever is on my mind and that's why I love journaling. Literally, as entrepreneurs, there are usually so many thoughts journaling… Sorry, swirling in my mind and journaling allows me to take those swirling thoughts, put them down on paper, and just get them out of my head. Do you know what I mean? It's just like I have a lot of voices in my head and I'm not crazy. It's just being an entrepreneur, it's being a businessman, and I'm always having thoughts and ideas, and I need to get those things down. So once I get them down on paper then my brain can be like, "Ah, okay, that thought is saved somewhere. I don't need to save it anymore myself." And that offloading allows me to clear that space for new ideas, for new concepts, for new creativity, or for whatever challenge or task I have set forth for my next hour, two hours, day.
On Taking Risks
David: So you mentioned being in this for seven or so years. Let me circle back to your own personal stories, and I think, in a lot of ways, you were living, what a lot of people would consider to be a pretty good life. You had a secure job, secure income, and lots of that surface-level stuff was in place, and basically really stable.
But it sounds like you still kinda couldn't imagine doing what you were doing for the next 10 or 20 or whatever years and you've talked about how you were basically doing exactly what you were supposed to have done, but you were still kinda miserable. So I'm curious about how your expectations for that stable, smooth life, how those expectations differed from the reality that you saw once you were in the middle of it.
JLD: The reality is this, is that I was doing what I thought I was supposed to do. I was checking the blocks, I went to high school, to college, I was an officer in the US Army for eight years, went to law school, was in corporate finance. I was doing the things that I wanted to do, but there was still this void inside of me that was just like, "Why are you spending your days doing X, Y, or Z, making somebody else rich, making some other company more money, making these mindless phone calls, attending these pointless meetings, commuting in these, just, soul grinding traffic jams? Why are you spending your time doing this?"
Because as an officer in the army frankly, I saw death up close during my 13-month tour of duty in Iraq. I saw people's lives snatched away when they were 18, 22, 27 years old, and that's sad to know that they're never going to experience another day in their lives and I'm like, "Who am I to not be happy, still having this gift of life in front of me, having not made the ultimate sacrifice that some of my fellow soldiers made?" And to me, it was just like, "Enough is enough." It's like I owe it to them to live the life that I'm most capable of and to take the risks, to have the courage to put myself out there, and yes, maybe fail multiple times but guess what? Maybe actually succeed too.
And I did fail plenty of times and I continue to fail all the time. But I have the confidence and the courage to get back off the map, try something else and keep moving forward. And we turn Entrepreneurs on Fire, with that attitude, with that mentality of being willing to fail, into a multi-million dollar a year business by year two that we've maintained now for the past six years.
And something that I'm very passionate about is, how can I impact a lot of people while generating a lot of revenue that then allows me to impact even more people? It's like this circle of life that needs to happen if you're gonna keep growing your business, growing your impact, growing your influence. But for me, it all goes back to that, "Do I have the courage to take that first step, to take that first leap?" And most people, they never do, and it's their biggest regret late in life.
The Magic of Entrepreneurship
David: And you talked about risk and about having courage. Were you pretty freaked? Just kinda turning your back on this stability that you'd kind of cultivated for yourself?
JLD: 100 percent. But it's key to remember the phrase, "All the magic happens outside of your comfort zone." I've read that in books. I saw it on quote boards. I had never lived it, so I didn't know if I quite believed it when I first started. But once I did it once and got outside of my comfort zone and actually tasted that magic, saw the magic, and felt the magic, I was like, "Wow. This is real." And I just have kept doing it ever since.
I keep pushing myself outside of the comfort zone, so I can taste that magic, smell it, see it, live it, be it. Because all the magic happens outside of your comfort zone. So many people that just live in that cozy little place where it's their cubicle, they know how to just do those TPS reports day in and day out and you know, they're living in their own little bubble. That's not my world, I don't wanna be in that comfort zone, I wanna try new things, I wanna scare myself. I want to push the limits to create that magic.
David: Now, when you've talked about this pre-entrepreneurship life, you've used the word "trapped" before and I wanted to press you on this word "trapped" because it's a heavy, miserable word. What do you mean when you talk about feeling trapped in this kind of previous life?
JLD: Man, trapped was just like, I thought that I'd done all the right things, and I thought that I was supposed to be handed this perfect life. I thought that I deserved it. Well, now I realize looking back, that we don't deserve anything. We deserve what we create. This entitlement has to go away. What world are you gonna live in? And so many people are trapped on such a higher level than I felt trapped. 'Cause I felt trapped because I was like, "Well, I've gotta stay in this path of corporate finance, of going to law school, this traditional path." I thought that was my only way to go. I didn't see any exit, I didn't see any way out at the time. It wasn't until I started reading books and listening to other podcasts that I was able to find my path outside of that maze that did feel trapping.
But the reality is, unfortunately, for other people, they're trapped with all of that stuff that I just talked about, that I was trapped by, and additionally, they're trapped by debt. Because they took out way too much in student loans, because they are paying way too much rent for their apartment, because they're paying way too much on their car and their mortgage payment and with X and Y and Z and they've trapped themselves in debt, where they are living paycheck to paycheck, where just one, two, or three missed paychecks is a disaster for them.
And that's being trapped and that's sad and that's something that I really want people to start to open their eyes up that, man, you need to avoid that trap and if you are already in that trap, man you need to find a way A, to start wheedling down that debt or B, you gotta pass along that knowledge to your kids, where they cannot spend $80,000 a year, going to an out-of-state college when they can just as easily be spending two or five or six thousand dollars a year at in-state, getting essentially the same piece of paper in their hand at the end of the four years and not the crippling debt that goes along with this.
That's a whole other, obviously, rabbit hole that we're not gonna go down today. But I mean, that's what some people need to open their eyes up about is they're being trapped before they even open their eyes to the opportunities that exist in this world.
Entrepreneurs on Fire
David: At this point, Entrepreneurs on Fire, it's seven years old, as you mentioned, you're thousands of episodes deep, you got thousands of five-star ratings on iTunes, you've had an insane roster of guests, Gary Vaynerchuk, Tim Ferriss and so on. But it wasn't always like that. And you talked about failure earlier, and how you had some, maybe some face plants out of the gate. I'm curious about any, "Holy crap, what am I doing?" moments that you had in the early years. Was there any of that going on?
JLD: All of it. I'm telling you, every part of my success came outside of my comfort zone, so every time I had success, every time that I took the next step in my business or life it was because I was outside of my comfort zone, feeling freaked out, falling on my face, embarrassing myself, doing all these things. But in reality, just making myself better, putting in the reps, doing what has to be done, doing what all those people that you mentioned have done. They've all been terrified, fallen flat on their face, embarrassed themselves. Of course they do. And they continue to do so that's why they stay on top, that's why they're still making it happen in their industry, in their niche, in their little curve that they've cut out in this world.
So for me, that's what it's all about. And that still happens to this day. I just hosted a 45-day Masterminds… Sorry, a 45-person Mastermind, it was three days, down here in Puerto Rico, and it was scary. I mean having 45 people coming down to my house in Puerto Rico to learn from me and they spent a pretty penny to be selected for this opportunity. I had to deliver. And this is 2020, and I've been rocking it for years and years and years now, but I still put myself in those situations. Like right now I'm planning my first ever actual event where we want 400, 600, maybe 1,000 people eventually at this event that we're gonna throw and it's just exciting to see where we can go in this world when we keep putting ourselves outside of that comfort zone.
David: You mentioned reps, it's an interesting way to talk about it, and I think some people, they're maybe a little bit, maybe scared to make mistakes or they're gun-shy. Is just doing it and doing it and doing it over and over and over again, is that something that is… You said it's valuable for you, is that something that you've seen as well in other people, that, just being prolific, even if there's a prolific failure at the beginning that that's gonna be huge down the road?
JLD: "John, how did you become a good podcast host?" I get that question all the time. And guess what? I put in the reps. I kept doing the work. I did a podcast episode every single day for 2,000 days in a row. If I didn't get good, there's something wrong with me. You need to think about that my friends. You need to put in the reps. Nobody that you admire who's good at something right now, nobody became good at it without putting in the reps. You're not born naturally gifted at X, Y, Z, and D. We don't know any of this stuff. We become good at it because we put in the reps.
The tragedy that just happened with Kobe Bryant very recently, guess what? He's known as one of the hardest working individuals ever in basketball. And that's why he achieved the success that he achieved because he put in the reps. Every single day, he was at practice first, at practice last, putting in the reps and he became one of the all-time greats, and it's just unbelievable and people just could look at him and say, "Oh, man, I just wish I was as lucky as Kobe was with those genes."
Yeah, guess what? He definitely has some gene help with being 6'6 and being agile and fast, and all those things, like that helps. 100 percent. No doubt, I'm 5'10. I could be as athletic as Kobe and still not the stud that he is, 'cause he's got eight inches on me. But guess what? That guy put in thousands and thousands and thousands of hours of reps. That's why he was a winner.
David: What was the plan with the podcast out of the gate? 'Cause like you said, you weren't a natural-born podcaster, perhaps it's not something that anybody is born being able to do. So you had to build it, you had to do it and do it and do it. What was mapped out at the beginning, with regard to the podcast and whether or not this would be the centerpiece of this huge operation that you have now?
JLD: Honestly, the one roadmap that I had was an Albert Einstein quote, "Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value." That was the focus. For 32 years, I was trying to become a person of success and it wasn't working. I was doing what I thought was all the right things: an officer in the army, law school, corporate finance. No success was coming to me. But then I saw that quote, I'm like, "Let me flip it on its head. Let me try to become a person of value, by delivering a free, valuable, consistent daily podcast called Entrepreneurs on Fire." And for 13 months, I made almost no money doing that, every single day, but then at month 13, it clicked.
The value added up, the tipping point happens, and from that month on, I've been generating over six figures of net profits for 76 months in a row with the business Entrepreneurs on Fire, which as you mentioned earlier, we published in our monthly income reports at eofire.com/income. We love showing people how we're making money, how we're losing money, mistakes we're making, successes we're having. We wanna lay it all out, so people can avoid our mistakes and emulate our successes. That's what they're all about. And listen, I just was focused on becoming a person of value. That's what the concept was. That's what the goal was, at first, and then all the success came as a result.
John Lee Dumas on the Work It Takes to be Succesful
David: So you're all about productivity and discipline and focus. This seems like this is kind of your Holy Trinity to your approach to life, and I'm curious to what extent productivity, discipline, and focus come naturally to you, and then how much you feel like you've had to train in them? Because I can imagine somebody, they might have crap focus or they were diagnosed with ADD or whatever, they might think that they're doomed, that they're not gonna be able to do this. To what extent are these things learned and if they are learnable, what are the ways that people should go about doing them?
JLD: Listen, the reality is this: You need to focus on becoming a productive, disciplined, and focused individual. I'm not saying that's super simple to do, it's not gonna come overnight. That's actually why I created one of my best works of all time, it's called The Mastery Journal: How to Become Productive, Disciplined and Focused in 100 Days, because I know it's not easy, and it didn't take a short amount of time for me. It took a long period of time for me to master those three things.
But what is being productive? It's producing the right content. What's being disciplined? It's being a disciple to a plan of action and actually executing that action. And then what's being focused? Following one course until success. Not two, not five, not 10, which most people are doing. Focus, follow one course until success. I get that ADD is so easy these days, with Instagram beeping every second and your phone ringing and Facebook blaring and somebody screaming your name, I get it. You've got to focus. You gotta follow one course until success. If you do, you will win. If you don't, you won't win.
David: You've kind of mocked the idea of being too busy. And maybe mock is too strong of a word but…
JLD: No, it's a good word. It's a good word.
David: Okay, okay. You've at least rolled your eyes at the idea of being too busy. If people say, "Oh, I don't have time to read books or I don't have time to exercise or eat right," whatever the thing is that they don't have time for. What do you think or what do you tell people when you hear about them being too busy?
JLD: I say we all make choices. Why am I, a human being, able to have the time for 90 minutes in the morning to do my morning routine, able to eat right, able to exercise right, able to hydrate right, able to focus on meaningful work that's making impact and influence in this world? Because I'm focused. Because I'm doing the right things. You're a human being… And I'm not talking specifically to you, I'm talking to the listener right now. I'm saying you're a human being as well and so you've made choices. If you're one of those people that are saying, "I'm too busy," you've made choices that have led to that reality.
I've made choices that have led to my reality. Guess what? The first 32 years of my life, I was that other reality where I was too busy to do anything. But guess what? At 32 years old, I educated myself to the level of realizing that I'm a result. My actions and decisions are a result of my reality, and I made different decisions. I'm a result of the changes I made in my life. I made the decision to become more focused, to become more productive, to become more disciplined, and I've created a life that I wanted. Everybody listening can create the life that they want when they commit to doing the things they want. Everybody listening to this is saying, "Oh, I can't wait until this interview is over 'cause I'm gonna go Netflix and chill."
Well, guess what? There's a reason why that's gonna become your life, Netflix and chilling. And you know what, for some people, honestly, that's fine. But I doubt it's fine for the people that are listening to a show like this. You don't listen to this kind of content if you just wanna Netflix and chill for the rest of your life. There's the vast majority of individuals in this world who will do that and that's fine. That's fine. But for those people who want more, who want financial freedom, who want location freedom, who want lifestyle freedom, it takes more. It takes decisions. And guess what? I didn't get here overnight, but I got here because of the decisions that I made.
The Freedom Journal
David: Alright, you just used the word freedom three times, so I gotta pounce on that. And this is a word that you use a lot, you even have The Freedom Journal, which is something that's available on your website. And freedom is something that you romanticize and you're in love with this idea. What is freedom in the context that you talk about it? In the context of entrepreneurship?
JLD: Freedom is living life on my terms. That's the simplest way I can put it. I took a 90-day trip to Europe with my girlfriend, Kate, because I had the freedom to do that. Kate just took off today, a Wednesday, or it's a Thursday to go to San Juan to meet her aunt and uncle who are getting off a cruise ship and spending a couple of hours here because she has the freedom to do that, because of the lifestyle that we've created.
It's living life on your own terms. I wanted to move to Puerto Rico. We moved to Puerto Rico. I wanted to take a 90-day trek over the fall, last year. We did it. I wanna take a 23-day river cruise in Europe this coming May. We're doing that. It's living life on my own terms. My calendar, my schedule, is chock-full of things that I said yes too. Not that somebody said, "You have to do this, you have to do that." This is my business, my life, my decisions. And guess what? Again, I'm not saying that I sat on my fingers and got here overnight. There was year one, year two, year three, year four. A lot of hard work to create the business and the lifestyle, and the systems, and the automation, and the team to get to where I am now at year seven, year eight of my business. But I got here and you can too. It's a matter of making those decisions.
David: So let's say, somebody… They want the freedom, that it all sounds good, that they're not digging what they're doing now, but they know they're not gonna get into podcasts. That's not gonna be their ticket. But they do have this itch that we've kind of been talking about. What sort of thought process should they be embarking on when they ask themselves, "Okay, what I'm doing now isn't good for me, but what is my thing? What should I be doing?"
JLD: Listen, I've heard this question from literally tens of thousands of people because it's an understandable question. I was asking that question to myself at 30, at 31, at 32 before I finally came across my big idea, which was Entrepreneurs on Fire. Your big idea should rightfully so be something completely different or completely unique to you because it's your big idea and that's where the beauty lies.
And listen, this isn't like a shameless plug, because this is a completely free course, but I created this for you people that are having this very same question. It's called Your Big Idea. So if you visit YourBigIdea.io, you can, for free, take this 60-minute video course that I created to get to your big idea and then you'll identify that big idea, and you'll be off to the races, 'cause I understand that it's a struggle. That's why I created these structures, these tutorials, and these exercises to make it clear what your big idea could be. And this free course has helped unveil so many opportunities for so many people because they just sat down and actually took the time to go through this process and understand what their big idea is and then go all in.
Being a Digital Nomad
David: So I gotta ask you about the travels that you've mentioned. You said you relocated to Puerto Rico, you did the big Europe trip where you were kind of living the digital nomad life. So whether it's digital nomad, or location independence, whatever you wanna call it, this idea that you can kind of just pick up and go, I think that's something that inspires a lot of people. That's a big part of their itch. What's it like to have this situation where the whole world's your office or anywhere with a WiFi connection's your office?
JLD: It's the dream. It's living life on my own terms. That's the definition of freedom that I wanted to create, was living life on my own terms. And I love the fact that I can be in Annecy, France, which we were this past fall. And go out and spend an amazing day in this beautiful French village, and have lunch and dinner, and go bike riding around the lake, and do all these things. And then come back, put 45 minutes of work in on email, on social media and be done for the day, and knowing that my business is running, and generating revenue, and doing its thing.
And again, I'm not painting this picture of this dream that that life happened to me overnight. That's seven years into launching my business, but it is a reality for us today, and it's something that we take full advantage of, because we live in a world where if you want to create an online business, you then have an opportunity that wherever you can get on WiFi, you can be running that business. And it's a magical, beautiful thing.
David: How has entrepreneurship changed since you got into the game? Seven years isn't that long, but it's long enough to where things might have evolved a little bit. Are there any huge differences between now and when you got started?
JLD: The biggest difference from when I launched Entrepreneurs on Fire back in 2012 to today, 2020 and beyond, is you have to niche your face off. Meaning you can't just have this vague, broad, big idea that you just wanna serve the world doing X, Y, or Z. It's you have to niche down and create a very specific solution to a very specific problem. That's how you're gonna win, that's how you're gonna create initial momentum, because it is so hard to get initial momentum in this world when it comes to entrepreneurship, when it comes to business, when it comes to life. Period.
But you're making it so much easier on yourself when you niche down and you're serving one specific target audience the best possible solution to their real-life struggle.
David: Awesome. John Lee, we can leave it there and anybody who hasn't checked out Entrepreneurs on Fire, give it a listen. It's fun, it's positive, you'll leave it feeling good. It's a kick-ass podcast. So John Lee, thanks so much for taking the time to chat, I appreciate it.
JLD: David, it's been straight fire. Thanks for having me, my man. Appreciate it and prepare to ignite.
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The sample material is about four to five months later than expected.
In Solarvalue Achieves Important Milestone for Silicon Feedstock Production (Deutsch), Solarvalue AG (FRA:SV7) claimed:
its Silicon Feedstock Pilot Facility located in the United States is now fully operational and that silicon has successfully been processed and purified. Initial analysis show that the innovative process using tailor made equipment is able to reduce impurities by using unidirectional solidification.
This milestone was achieved about two months after the "Small scale production laboratory", morphed into the "Silicon Feedstock Pilot Facility", began operations as described in the previous post, Solarvalue AG Solar Grade Silicon sample Lab "Oratory".
Here are some key points to consider regarding this milestone:
- The "Pilot Facility" capacity remains on the order of 10's of kilograms scale.
- The sample material was tested at an unnamed "well known independent materials characterization laboratory in the United States".
- The sample material has not been used to make silicon solar cells.
Solarvalue concludes:
These encouraging results complete the requirements for the upcoming milestone of Solarvalue to transfer its innovative production process to the company-owned industrial scale production plant in Ruse, Slovenia, in the second half of 2008.
Are circumstances unfolding for a 2008 repeat of Ruše Surprise: Solarvalue delays Solar Grade Silicon production?
Optimistic, speculative Solarvalue shareholders sent the stock up about €10 on this delayed milestone. Contrast this stock action to Timminco Limited (TSE:TIM) which is under siege by the financial press and short sellers.
And Clean Edge editorial picks has named GUNTHER Portfolio as a Top 10 Blog in the clean-tech space. Muchas gracias!


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As part of the Three Choirs Festival there have been lots of concerts, exhibitions and other events happening this week in Gloucester. I went along to St Nicholas Church to see a selection of exhibitions with a crafty theme...
There was an exhibition of work by textile artist Jane O'Leary - the posts on her blog about preparing for the exhibition are really interesting. I particularly loved this piece, the details in it are just lovely:
I fell totally in love with the selection of beautiful engravings by Sarah Van Niekerk (you can see lots of images of her current work here).
The main exhibition was "Quilted Jewels", a display of quilts by the members of three local quilting groups: Montpelier Quilters, Highnam Quilters and Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters.
Seeing the church covered in all those colourful patterns was a wonderful sight - they were hanging everywhere and draped all over the pews in a riot of colour. My little camera struggled a bit with the lighting conditions but I'm sure you can use your imagination a bit!
A few of my favourites were... "Mediterranean Madness" by Linda Simmons:
"Stained Glass Window Quilt" by Mary Davies and "Heraldry Hanging" by Pat Wilson (which included fabrics hand-dyed by Pat's daughter Cathy):
"Farmyard Fun" by Linda Simmons and "Freedom Road" by Valerie Pickard:
"Dazzling Diamonds" by Mary Davies and "Rice Bowls" by Linda Simmons from a Kaffe Gasset design:
"Joined Hands" and "Diamonds are Forever" by Polly Sutcliffe:
And a hand-pieced quilt by Anna Jones called "The First of Many" which was started years ago, abandoned half-finished in an attic and then re-started and finished with the encouragement of the Highnam Quilters group.
I also couldn't resist taking some snaps of the textiles and patterns in the church while I was there :)
Sunday 15 August 2010
8 comments:
- Unknown said...
Guau!!! great work!!
Regards from this warm Madrid - 16 August 2010 at 12:11
- Tumus said...
I have a soft spot of quilts, lovely posts and I'm glad your pictures turned out so well! I love how no two quilts are ever the same.
- 16 August 2010 at 14:42
- Unique Beaded Gems said...
Wow the handmade quilts are amazing! Looks like a fun weekend was had! You found some talented craftspeople too! Jo x
- 16 August 2010 at 15:17
- A Time for Stitching said...
I'd love to see a quilt festival like this in my church!! The patterns in the church are lovely too. There's so much inspiration wherever you look.
Teresa a - 16 August 2010 at 16:16
- Unknown said...
Thank you so much for sharing....it was just amazing and beautiful to scroll thru the quilt pics!
- 17 August 2010 at 08:39
- sweet dreams said...
everything is wonderful!!!Bravo!
- 17 August 2010 at 21:22
- Gill said...
This isn't far from me - I hope it's still on!!
Gill - 19 August 2010 at 08:36
- Bugs and Fishes said...
Unfortunately I think it only ran for 1 week, Gill!
- 19 August 2010 at 09:02
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LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A trade show expected to draw tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts and manufacturers opened Tuesday on the Las Vegas Strip with the head of an industry group preparing to tell convention-goers they weren't to blame for the recent mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.
"We are not the evildoers," National Shooting Sports Foundation chief Steve Sanetti said in remarks scheduled to be delivered Tuesday evening. "You didn't cause the monstrous crime in Newtown and neither did we."
The start of the annual Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show at the sprawling Sands Expo Convention Center comes amid a national debate on gun control following last month's shooting in Connecticut, which left 20 schoolchildren and six adults dead. The gunman, who authorities say wielded a military-style assault rifle, also killed himself.
President Barack Obama was expected to unveil recommendations Wednesday from Vice President Joe Biden, who in recent weeks has led a task force studying methods to curb gun violence.
Also, New York state lawmakers passed the toughest gun control law in the nation and were daring other states to do the same.
In his state-of-the-industry speech, Sanetti characterized weapons manufacturers, sellers and buyers as "misunderstood."
"Ours is a responsible industry that manufactures and sells lawful products to law-abiding citizens, who in turn exercise their constitutional right to own, use and enjoy firearms safely and responsibly for lawful purposes," he said.
Sanetti's remarks drew criticism from gun control advocates who said promoting and selling military-style assault rifles is the growth model for an industry that the foundation said is coming off a profitable $4.1 billion year.
"There's a dirty little secret here in the wake of Newtown," said Ladd Everitt, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "One of the primary areas for marketing and growth in the gun industry right now is assault weapons. The other is compact style handguns for people who carry guns in public."
"What's sexy and promoted is military-style assault weapons, not bolt-action deer hunting rifles," Everitt said. "In truth, the lobbying of the NSSF and their partners at the NRA is the sole reason we now live in an America where homicidal maniacs are allowed to stockpile firearms, often legally."
Sanetti said the weapons industry strongly supports severe penalties for those who misuse their right to own firearms.
The foundation, which is headquartered in the same Connecticut town where the school shooting took place, was hosting a show that it said would draw nearly 60,000 credentialed industry professionals, recreational gun owners and law enforcers.
The 35th annual SHOT show was closed to the public and was covered by a limited number of reporters and photographers. Foundation spokesman Bill Brassard Jr. told The Associated Press the group was swamped by media requests and stopped accepting applications following the Newtown shooting.
"By shutting out the news media, NSSF hopes that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," said Josh Sugarmann, head of the Violence Policy Center gun-control advocacy group in Washington, D.C., and a native of Newtown, Conn. He accused the foundation of "putting a happy face on the weapons of war it helps market ... while ignoring the inevitable tragedies that result."
The show offered 1,600 vendors with displays ranging from camping needs to pocket knives, camouflage clothing and tactical gear, along with handguns, hunting rifles and assault rifles. The sounds of bolt-action firing mechanisms could be heard throughout the vast convention hall.
Will Michael, whose family owns a sporting goods store in Homer, La., examined AR-15 military-style assault rifles and later paused during his trek through a maze of more than 12 miles of booth-lined aisles to talk by telephone with a reporter.
"There's a lot more interest in any and everything they're talking about banning," Michael said. "What I really enjoy about this show is you can hold the product, put your hands on it and pass that experience to the customer."
Michael said buyers have been joining waiting lists since a spike in AR-15 sales after a mass shooting last July 20 at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater killed 12 people and injured 70.
He said that until hoarders made ammunition costs soar, the inexpensive multi-shot AR model weapons were economical and efficient for hunters stalking nuisance wild pigs in his region.
A herd of pigs scatters after a single shot with a bolt-action rifle, Michael noted.
And with demand high, .223-caliber AR-15 bullets that used to cost 10 to 15 cents each in bulk now cost 50 to 60 cents, he said.
Associated Press photographer Julie Jacobson contributed to this report.


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Saturday, September 26, 1998 was a big day for the Linux community in Canada--that day the First Canadian National Linux InstallFest was held.
The InstallFest was organized on a national level by CLUE (Canadian Linux Users' Exchange) to provide interested people with experienced help installing Linux on their computers. CLUE is an organization that supports the development of local Linux Users Groups, and co-ordinates events, corporate sponsorships and publicity at a national level. CLUE hopes that by enhancing association and communication amongst its developers, users, suppliers and the general public, it can increase the use and appreciation of Linux within Canada.
A dozen different events were held across Canada, from Halifax to Victoria, all taking place on the same day by Linux User Groups.
The Montreal event, at its peak, had as many as 100 people in the room at once and by all accounts, had 200 to 250 people stop by. They did 40 installs, only 20 of which were from preregistrations. They even had the crew of the local TV show Branch stop by for an interview, due to air in November. Also worthy of mentioning, they had guru Jacques Gelinas, the author of the LinuxConf software, answering questions.
Two InstallFests were held in the Toronto area: one at Seneca College and the other at the University of Toronto Bookstore. The Seneca College event had a late start due to a power outage, but more than made up for it as the unofficial count of installs is about 100. They even rolled out their Beowulf class Linux cluster for the masses to look at and see how a few ``small'' Linux boxes can be turned into a Supercomputer.
The Manitoba UNIX Users Group, (MUUG) held their InstallFest at the University of Manitoba, as two-day event beginning on Friday. As this was their first InstallFest, they deliberately kept it small and aimed mostly at the faculty and students of the U of M. About 140 people attended, with more than half purchasing a Linux CD, as well as 19 successful installs. Attendance was greater than expected, probably due to the national news coverage the event received. At least one person came in who said he had discovered the InstallFest by seeing a segment about it on CTV News-1, a National News network.
The MUUG web site made mention of one more interesting story from the event. One attendee brought in a system which became known as ``Franken-puter''! It was apparently two separate cases tossed together with all sorts of spare parts the owner was able to scrounge up, and connected with a piece of coax Ethernet cable. He spent as much time swapping parts and reconfiguring on the fly as he did installing Linux. He apparently showed up at the start of the event on Friday and didn't finish until mid-afternoon on Saturday. Even after all that, he still hung around afterwards to help others with their installs.
The Ottawa InstallFest was hosted by the Ottawa Carleton Linux Users Group (OCLUG). While almost all the other events were held in a more academic setting of local colleges and universities, OCLUG had their event sponsored by NovoClub, a local retail store. NovoClub is located in a shopping mall and managed to get an empty store front for OCLUG to use. They also arranged for display kiosks to be set-up in the mall by several companies. There were training companies, a local ISP and most notable, Corel Computer displaying their NetWinder, and of course, NovoClub was offering specials on their very large selection of Linux products. The whole event was more like a mini trade show than a typical InstallFest.
The unofficial count at the installation store front was that 250 people came through the door. This count included those that came to have Linux installed on their machines, members of the press and ``just curious'' folk who stopped to ask questions, while wandering around in the mall.
OCLUG chose not to have people preregister, they decided to just let people come and register the day of the event. It was supposed to start at 10 AM and go to 5 PM. However, people were lined up at 9 AM when the mall opened, and they soon ended up with a backlog of machines waiting for Linux installation. By 3 PM they were two hours behind and had to start turning people away. By the time it was over, they had installed Linux on 50 to 60 machines and still had 10 they could not finish.
Not all events were as big as the ones listed above. The New Brunswick Linux Users Group had only ten people attend, with four successful installs. They were a bit upset at the low turn out. However, it was also Homecoming week at Mount Alison University in town, and a football game was in full swing at the same time as the InstallFest. They are in the process of designing a tutorial for their new users and anyone else who is interested. The Fredericton InstallFest was a little larger with thirty attendees and ten installations.
The general consensus is that as a public relations event, the InstallFest was an overwhelming success. It got a lot of people asking questions about Linux, some of whom took the plunge and installed Linux for the first time. However, it was not completely successful as a technical event. By no means is this a reflection on either those who organized the individual events or the volunteers who helped with the installations--they all did a stellar job--just no one was prepared for the magnitude of the response.
Most LUGs asked people to register prior to the event. This allowed them to get as many volunteers as they thought they would need. Some groups, like the Vancouver Linux Users Group were swamped with preregistration and had to halt registration prior to the event because they could not accommodate everyone. Even with preregistration, the day of the event was hectic. The report from Seneca College in Toronto was that their event lasted until 9 PM, and they were still unable to complete all the installs. Other events had similar reports, and despite the best laid plans, the response overwhelmed the number of installers.
Some installs were unsuccessful, either due to time constraints or hardware compatibility issues that were not easily overcome. That said, the ratio of unsuccessful to successful installs was minimal. In most cases, it was one or two to fifty. I've seen more failures on MS Windows installations than that.
One of the interesting side-effects of the OCLUG InstallFest was that preliminary discussions were started between Zenith Learning Technologies and Corel Computer to set up a corporate Linux training program. Also, Oliver Bendzsa of Corel Computer reportedly said that he was as busy at the InstallFest as he was at Canada Comdex, a 3-day trade show that drew some 50,000 people in Toronto.
Dave Neill, a founding member of OCLUG, said that while grassroots events like the InstallFest are a great way to promote Linux, it is now time to start approaching local computer resellers and show them there is a demand for systems with Linux pre-installed. I work for Inly Systems, the largest independent computer reseller in the Ottawa area, and while we are now expanding the variety of Linux products we carry, we still do not offer Linux pre-installed on our machines. However, with at least three technicians who have experience with Linux and/or UNIX installations, we could do this if people began asking for it. However, we are an exception; most resellers don't have technicians with Linux experience.
One of the issues that must be answered is how and where companies can have their technicians trained. This is where training companies like Zenith Learning Technologies come in. The fact that Zenith was at the OCLUG InstallFest shows that they realize the potential for Linux training. With such companies as Corel, Oracle, Intel and Netscape investing time and money in Linux, it won't be long before other training companies jump on the bandwagon.
Plans are already in the works for a Global Linux InstallFest next year. If you would like to know more or would like to get your LUG involved, please check out the CLUE web site at http://www.linux.ca/ and contact Matthew Rice. An event of this magnitude will need lots of help organizing, so don't be shy--watch out Bill, the Penguin is on the move!
For more information on the individual InstallFest events, please visit the CLUE web site for a list of links to all the participating user groups.


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Our family loves to whip up appetizers – more specifically…yummy dips.
I understand that dips are supposed to be saved for those special occasions, but why wait for special occasions when they are so easy?
I have mastered healthier, low fat options by substituting low fat cheeses, sour cream, and always adding twice as many fresh vegetables (if the recipe calls for it).
While making dips, learning to experiment with flavors has been a fantastic way to encourage my children with their culinary creativity.
We have been spending lots of time with family this week and there is nothing that rekindles memories of yesteryears more than a family recipe. When I first met my husband, I remember being served this Southern caviar dip whenever we would visit. My mother in law has passed away, but the tradition continues as my sister in law always makes this for our family get-togethers. I just found out this week where the recipe originated from decades ago, and how their family began serving it. Do you know the origin of favorite family recipes? If not, find out, and pass the recipe down through the generations…with the story.
Southern Caviar (recipe passed from GA to MN to WI and then to NC)
No guilt with this recipe…just flavor and sheer garden goodness. This did NOT look like a dip I would enjoy when I first saw it, but one bite and I was in love. 🙂
- Tall can of black eyed peas (rinse and drain)
- One can of shoe peg corn (drained)
- 3-4 green onions (chopped)
- 1/4 onion (chopped..red onion is delicious as well)
- 1/3 of a green pepper (I love to add yellow and red as well)
- 2 tomatoes (chopped)
- 1/4 cup Italian dressing (or more til desired consistency)
- 2 Tbs chopped jalapenos (or more to taste)
Mix well and chill. Serve with Frito Scoops
Beer Dip
Considering I am in one of the Beer Capitals of the World right now (WI), I wouldn't be right not to share a true Wisconsin dip. The irony here is that I don't drink ANY beer – never had, never will and I don't like the taste one bit. Yet just a dash of beer mixed into this recipe adds an unbelievably unique flavor. It is so yummy, makes a ton for a get together, and whips up really fast! Make it the night before for an even better taste. It will give the spices time to blend.
- 3 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese (softened)
- 1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
- 1/2 -3/4 can of beer
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Mix cream cheese, dressing, and beer til you reach your desired creamy consistency. Then mix in 1/2 cup of cheese, leaving the remaining cheese to sprinkle on top.
Serve with pretzels or scoops.
Need more ideas for cooking with large groups? How about taco dip and quick, easy homemade pizza?
Group cooking in a pinch…what do you have in your freezer? Check out my one hour experiment.
I can't wait to see what everyone is sharing for Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods
As always, please follow the simple guidelines or post will be deleted.
1. Include your post showing us your Tasty Tuesday recipe or ideas.
2. Link up below to the permalink of your post. To find out what yours is, simply click on the title of your post and grab the permalink from the address bar.
3. Link your post back to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam as a courtesy to me so everyone will know where to find more recipe inspiration.
Tasty Tuesday Parade of Food Participants
Powered by… Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.


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Getting started with Apache Mesos and Apache Aurora using Vagrant
Apache Mesos is a cluster manager that provides efficient resource isolation and sharing across distributed applications, or frameworks. Think of it as the "kernel" for your data center. Paco Nathan talked about this on one of the All Things Hadoop Podcasts.
- Fault-tolerant replicated master using ZooKeeper
- Scalability to 10,000s of nodes
- Isolation between tasks with Linux Containers
- Multi-resource scheduling (memory and CPU aware)
- Java, Python and C++ APIs for developing new parallel applications
- Web UI for viewing cluster state
Apache Aurora is a service scheduler that runs on top of Mesos, enabling you to run long-running services that take advantage of Mesos' scalability, fault-tolerance, and resource isolation. Apache Aurora is currently a part of the Apache Incubator. The main benefits to a Mesos scheduler like Aurora (and Marathon) is not having to worry about using the Mesos API to take advantage of the grid. Your application can work the way it does today while Mesos figures out what server(s) to run it on and when to scale that differently from the scheduler.
- Deployment and scheduling of jobs
- The abstraction a "job" to bundle and manage Mesos tasks
- A rich DSL to define services
- Health checking
- Failure domain diversity
- Instant provisioning
First you need to make sure that you have vagrant and virtual box installed, if you don't already have these installed then install them please.
- Install Vagrant http://www.vagrantup.com/
- Install Virtual Box https://www.virtualbox.org/
That is all you need (assuming you also have git installed). Everything else from here is going to be done from within the virtual machine.
git clone https://github.com/apache/incubator-aurora cd incubator-aurora vagrant up
The virtual machines will take some time to spin up so hang tight.
Once the virtual machines are launched you will have your command prompt back and ready to go.
There are 5 vms that are launched: devtools, zookeeper, mesos-master, mesos-slave and aurora-scheduler and they are all configured and networked together (for more info on this check out the Vagrantfile).
Next step is to create an app on the scheduler to provision it to the Mesos cluster that is running.
vagrant ssh aurora-scheduler vagrant@precise64:~$ cd /vagrant/examples/jobs/ vagrant@precise64:~$aurora create example/www-data/prod/hello hello_world.aurora INFO] Creating job hello INFO] Response from scheduler: OK (message: 1 new tasks pending for job www-data/prod/hello) INFO] Job url: http://precise64:8081/scheduler/www-data/prod/hello
Now go to your browser and pull up http://192.168.33.5:8081/scheduler/www-data/prod/hello and you'll see your job running
Basically all of what is happening is in the configuration
hello = Process( name = 'hello', cmdline = """ while true; do echo hello world sleep 10 done """) task = SequentialTask( processes = [hello], resources = Resources(cpu = 1.0, ram = 128*MB, disk = 128*MB)) jobs = [Service( task = task, cluster = 'example', role = 'www-data', environment = 'prod', name = 'hello')]
It is an exciting time for virtualization and resource scheduling and process provisioning within infrastructures. It is all open source so go dig in and see how it all works for yourself.


text: ezW2 software can prepare, print and efile forms W2, W3, 1096-misc and 1099. If you do not have ezW2 software installed, you can download the trial version for free from halfpricesoft.com. No registration needed and no obligation. You can follow the step by step online instructions to finish the installation in minutes This W2 1099 software is compatible with Windows 10 system, 32-bit or 64-bit. It can run on Windows 8.1, 8, 7, XP, Me, 2003 and Vista system too. |


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Gareth Bale is comparable to Cristiano Ronaldo, says André Villas-Boas
André Villas-Boas hailed Gareth Bale as "incredible" after a stunning performance for Tottenham against Lyon in which two superb free-kicks earned his side canada goose coat 1000 a 2-1 lead going into the second leg of their Europa League knockout tie.
On a night on which Liverpool risked elimination from the competition after a 2-0 defeat at Zenit St Petersburg, Bale yet again proved the match-winner for Tottenham. He has scored each of the club's past six goals, this victory adding to those he delivered against Newcastle United and West Bromwich and the draw he salvaged at Norwich with a run from inside his own half.
On Thursday night Bale opened the scoring with a 35-yard effort in first-half injury-time and secured the win in the dying seconds with a click over here 25-yard strike which again left the Lyon goalkeeper, Rémy Vercoutre, clasping thin air.
Lyon had drawn level following an equally impressive effort from their left-back Samuel Umtiti shortly after half-time, but, not to be outdone, Bale stepped up in the closing stages to seal the victory.
"He's incredible," Villas-Boas said. canada goose coat 1000 calorie diet "Not only his all-round game but this ability that he has to strike these free-kicks. The ball gains so much power when he strikes it and it changes direction very easily. Today we saw not only two great moments but three, because their goal was absolutely fantastic too. Gareth was fantastic."
Villas-Boas claimed that comparisons to Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo were appropriate and admitted there is now a sense of expectation whenever Bale is standing over a set piece.
Asked if the Welshman was comparable to Ronaldo, he said: "Yes, he's going through a great individual moment, scoring lots of goals for the team.
"I think it's his best goalscoring season for Tottenham. You just see that the player is really enjoying his buy canada goose coat uk football and taking a buzz out of it.
"We've seen him score three in two games from this situation and there is that possibility, there is an expectation because the player strikes it well and anything can happen, most likely a goal is likely to happen."
Villas-Boas did, however, insist that the best canada goose jacket womens Welshman's performance did not mask a poor overall display from his side. best canada goose jacket for women "I think it was a great first half and a poor second half. The first half was very good and exciting, we managed to get in behind them and play open football," he best fake canada goose jacket said.
The Lyon manager, Rémi Garde, also believes that Bale's ability from set pieces ranks him among the best in the world and agreed that there are similarities with Ronaldo.
"If you mean in the context of the way they take free-kicks, I think you could average price for a canada goose jacket make a decent comparison, if you're referring to canada goose coat 1000 bulbs the way the ball dips and drops over best canada goose coat for skiing the wall. We used to have a player at Lyon called Juninho and we always used to think with him that every time best replica canada goose jacket we got a free-kick in that area it was like a penalty. We've seen tonight that it's a little bit like that with Bale and Tottenham."


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Washington (CNN) – Rep. John Boehner was voted by his colleagues into another term as House speaker Thursday despite receiving harsh criticism from some conservatives over his handling of the deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
There were a few scattered votes for other names – defeated Rep. Allen West, the tea party favorite from Florida, and GOP Majority Leader Eric Cantor both received nods – but the vast majority of Republicans in the House shouted Boehner's name when called upon by the House reading clerk. In total, 220 Republicans out of a conference of 234 went for the Ohio Republican during the tension-filled vote on the House floor.
Some GOP lawmakers didn't answer, or simply voted "present," when called to vote. In total 12 Republicans declined to vote for Boehner – a tiny percentage, but still the largest number opposing the re-election of a House speaker in recent history.
(see bottom of this post for a list of Republicans who didn't vote for Boehner).
And Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper bucked his party's leader Nancy Pelosi to cast a vote for former Secretary of State Colin Powell (being a member of Congress is not a requirement to be elected speaker). Pelosi received a total of 192 votes.
Before the vote, some Republicans walking into the House chamber voiced frustration at Boehner's performance as speaker, though the majority said they were supporting him for another two years in the role.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, who had his committee assignment revoked at the end of the last Congress, said he was casting a vote against Boehner based on "past performance." Huelskamp cast his vote for conservative Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio – who told CNN on his way into the chamber that he was supporting Boehner.
Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan conservative who also had his committee assignment removed, put forth Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho as a potential speaker.
Amash urged members to vote for someone other than Boehner in the hopes of pushing the speaker vote to second ballot, a fellow Republican, Rep. Walter Jones, said following Boehner's re-election. Amash wanted members to "see what other opportunities we might have," according to Jones, who added that Amash didn't press for particular candidate.
Jones, like Amash and Huelskamp, is still angry about having his committee assignment revoked without any heads up at the end of the last Congress – he said Thursday he "had to read about it on the internet"
Jones said Boehner didn't ask for his vote.
"He needs to call and ask for my vote," Jones said. "He didn't ask me."
House GOP leaders were confident in Boehner's re-election as they entered the chamber, telling reporters it was all but impossible for another representative to take the gavel.
Boehner himself told CNN he was confident the House would re-elect him speaker, but conceded a few fellow Republicans would likely vote against him.
When CNN asked Majority Leader Eric Cantor if Boehner would be re-elected he replied "absolutely."
House GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy, the number three House Republican, also told reporters he was sure Boehner would be re-elected speaker.
Asked what he thought of all the drama surrounding Thursday's vote, McCarthy replied, "Makes for good press, doesn't it?"
And House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, the vice presidential candidate in last year's election, make a skeptical "pshaw" when asked if Boehner would be challenged for his post.
Ryan downplayed what it would mean if members voted against Boehner, saying "that happens all the time," noting he's been in Congress eight terms and "it just happens."
CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash contributed to this report.
Rep. Justin Amash voted for Raul Labrador
Rep. Jim Bridenstine voted for Eric Cantor
Rep. Paul Broun voted for Allen West
Rep. Louis Gohmert voted for West
Rep. Walter Jones voted for David Walker
Rep. Tim Huelskamp voted Jim Jordan
Rep. Tom Massie voted for Justin Amash
Rep. Steve Pierce voted for Cantor
Rep. Ted Yoho voted for Cantor
Rep. Steve Stockman voted present
Rep. Raul Labrador did not vote
Rep. Mick Mulvaney did not vote
Article Courtesy of CNN
NATIONAL: Ohio's John Boehner Re-Elected as House Speaker was originally published on wzakcleveland.com


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Courchesne Brain Study Not Worth Sacrificing our Children Further
By Katie Wright
I frequently read about the importance of brain and tissue donation by autistic people for autism research. Apparently there is a severe shortage of this tissue available for study. To me my child's brain is the essence of Christian. So much unnecessary damage has already been done to Christian's brain. His brain was shown so little care and respect by the medical research community. Doctors took risks with my child they have no right to take. I feel I did not, was unable to, protect Christian's brain when it really mattered and he suffers from traumatic brain damage as a result. Naturally, now I am extremely protective of Christian; it is the least I can do.
No one knows better than parents like me that autism research is moving too slowly, making too few ground breaking or life improving discoveries. If Christian's deceased body could meaningfully contribute to innovative causation research, it would be very, very hard, but I would say yes and donate his body. If his brain were used to accelerate true progress I think it would be a great tribute to his spirit. I am sure most ASD parents feel the same way.
However the recent Courchesne Study made me change my mind about donating Christian's brain to science. This study represents my nightmare, the worst-case scenario. Children's brains have been used for politically driven poor quality science. I would rather Christian be buried with his brain intact than used for such abysmal research.
JAMA should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this Courchesne study. Courchesne examined the brains of 7 children with autism and 6 controls. Yes, this study is entirely based upon 13 people. Courchesne found that the autistic brains had more neurons in the pre-frontal cortex than the control brains. He describes these findings as, "an incredibly important discovery that tells us something started going wrong in prenatal life in children with autism." This is both an unbelievable and unbelievably self-serving statement filled with hyperbole and grandiosity.
What Couchesne's study actually tells us is that 6 ASD children had more prefrontal cortex neurons than 7 typical children. There were no aged matched controls! 2 of the 7 "ASD" children did not even have an official ASD diagnosis! 5 of the 7 ASD kids were on anti-psychotic drugs. We have idea how these drugs affect developing brain tissue. 1 of the control children had been taking Concerta and klonopin. Another control had had an organ transplant and was on immunosuppressive drugs for lengthy periods of time. There are only 5 controls not, as far as we know, on various prescription drugs. The fact that this study was actually published only proves how low the bar is for ASD genetic and brain research. There are not enough hours this day to list all the incredible, innovative environmental research studies regularly rejected by autism research journals. A 7-person biomedical study would NEVER be published by JAMA, I promise you.
There is a powerful and pervasive need of so many in the autism research community to "prove" autism is genetically and prenatally determined. The majority of autism researchers have spent their professional lives betting on the belief that autism is mainly a heritable genetic disorder of the brain. They have staked their careers on this hypothesis. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars looking for the "autism genes." This area of autism research has eaten up 80 cents of every dollar available for research. For decades we have been hearing promises that this genetic/ brain research would soon yield breakthroughs and exciting new treatments would result. The only problem here is they have not delivered, not to our children, not to our families nor to the taxpayers.
In the meantime families have grown more vocally impatient. Their kids need help and they need help now. Forget about vaccine safety research, that is a non-starter. Let's just look at some research basics that need to get done. Virtually no money has been spent researching here and now biomedical interventions. Over 50% of ASD kids have bowel problems- there are no approved treatments. 25% of ASD kids have a mitochondrial dysfunction- there are no approved treatments. Over 25% of ASD kids have serious food intolerances- there are no approved dietary interventions. At least 25% of ASD kids suffer from chronic illness and immune dysfunction- there are no approved treatments. Over 50% of ASD regress into autism and there are no approved treatments to stop or reverse this process.
Families are frequenting told there isn't enough research money available to address these issues. But guess what there is plenty of money for? Brain and gene research! These "Autism Centers for Excellence" centers blow almost $17 million a year on redundant brain and gene research. It is estimated that 50% of the ACE budgets go to overheard. There is no consumer oversight or public accountability for the money they spend. The NIH doles of autism research money behind closed dollars and without consumer input (they are under no obligation to follow the IACC recommendations), and guess what they love to fund the most? Brain and gene research.
This ridiculous Courchesne study was conducted by an ACE center naturally. I am sad to say it was funded in part by Autism Speaks.
The NIH and Autism Speaks have undertaken a campaign to promote brain and tissue donations. The evidence of this publicized and well-funded campaign is everywhere. As I stated earlier, as much as it would pain me I had planned to make my son's brain and body available for research. This Courchesne study has changed my mind.
This mother does not want to hear one more word about brain donations until we see the reform of ACE. I want Autism Speaks to stop putting so much time and energy into acquiring brains and instead train that focus on biomedical treatment research that will help children living today. AS has made some nice progress, especially with the recent Trailblazer grant which is terrific. However, AS' treatment science has been almost entirely behaviorally based. Small forays into biomedical research have focused on oxytocin, please; small time stuff. We need meaningful gut, immune, PANDAS, Lyme, adverse vaccine reaction and mitochondrial interventions. I would rather see no more brain research period than another Courchesne like study. This study is unworthy of our children's brains, a precious resource deserving of more respect and only the very best science.
Katie Wright is Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.
Managing Editor's Addition. This study, like so many others funded by AS and other mainstream, "anything but vaccination" entities is so depressing that we need to find something to laugh at. Young Frankenstein (that's frahn-ken-steen) serves the purpose, yes?"


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EDMONTON, Alberta – Sam Gagner had four goals and four assists in the NHL's first eight-point game in 23 years, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 8-4 on Thursday night.
Gagner fell two points shy of matching the league mark of 10, set by Toronto's Darryl Sittler on Feb. 7, 1976, but he tied the club record of eight that is held by Wayne Gretzky and defenseman Paul Coffey.
The 22-year-old Gagner, who had only five goals this season before Thursday, was chosen as all three stars of the game.
Taylor Hall, Ryan Whitney, Jordan Eberle and Cam Barker had the other goals for the Oilers (20-26-5), who are 3-0-1 in their last four games to move into a tie for third to last in the NHL with Anaheim.
Patrick Sharp had two goals, and Jamal Mayers and Dave Bolland also scored for the Blackhawks (29-16-7), who have lost four straight.
Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux was the last player before Gagner to have at least eight points in a game when he did it on Dec. 31, 1988, against New Jersey.
Including Sittler's record-setting performance, a player has recorded eight points in a game 14 times.
The Blackhawks opened the scoring 6 minutes in when Mayers fluttered a long shot from above the circle that fooled goalie Devan Dubnyk.
Chicago kept attacking but hit goal posts twice — a long drive from the point by Brent Seabrook and one from in close by Andrew Shaw. Just 40 seconds into the second period, Chicago made it 2-0 when Patrick Kane fed a pass to Sharp, who found a clear lane to beat Dubnyk.
The Oilers responded less than two minutes later when Gagner began his outburst. With a long pass, Gagner sprung Hall, who chipped his 18th goal of the year past goalie Corey Crawford. Hall has scored in three straight games.
Gagner tied it just over seven minutes later when he picked up his own rebound, circled behind the net, and scored on the wraparound.
The Oilers took a 3-2 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the second when Whitney ripped a shot from the point while Edmonton was on the power play for his first of the season. Gagner earned an assist.
Chicago tied it 2 minutes later on a short-handed 2-on-1 break when Dubnyk gave up a rebound to Sharp, who scored his second of the night.
Gagner made it 4-3 two minutes into the third with his second. Whitney's shot sailed over the net but bounced in front for Gagner to put past Crawford.
The Oilers chased the Chicago goalie two minutes later when Barker fluttered a shot from the point that Crawford waved at as it went into the top corner. Gagner earned his third assist, and Ray Emery replaced Crawford.
The Blackhawks got a goal back six minutes into the third as Bolland made a no-look backhand swat at a puck that squirted past Dubnyk.
Gagner completed the hat trick 30 seconds later to make it 6-4. Hall spun around and found Gagner streaking for his sixth point of the game.
And he wasn't done.
Eberle and Hall did terrific tic-tac-toe passing to get Gagner the puck, and he slapped his fourth goal of the game into a wide-open net as Emery slid to try to keep up with the play.
He then added his eighth point of the game by making a prefect feed to Eberle, who scored his 20th of the season with four minutes left.
NOTES: It was the fourth and final meeting between the teams. Edmonton won two of the first three, including a 9-2 home win over Chicago in November. ... Edmonton's once lengthy list of injured players is dwindling. D Cam Barker returned from an ankle injury sustained in November, and rookie scoring leader Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is skating with the team. He is expected to rejoin the lineup on Saturday, and D Tom Gilbert should be back next week. ... Chicago LW Andrew Brunette left with an upper body injury and didn't return. ... Chicago C Brendan Morrison played in his second game with the Blackhawks since being traded by Calgary during the NHL All-Star break.


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Russian commander: Tu-160s penetrate US airspace undetected
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A senior Russian air force commander has claimed that new, upgraded Tu-160 bomber aircraft were unchallenged by US air defense systems when they penetrated a radar zone near the Canadian coast in US territory during an April training exercise, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Commander of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said that the bombers successfully carried out four mock Tu-95MS cruise missile launches, 200 mock bombings, and 53 mock sorties during the exercise. The RIA Novosti reported that the United States Air Force is currently investigating how the Tu-160's escaped detection.
Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said, "They were unable to detect the planes either with radars or visually."
Khvorov denies any link of the tests to the current US-Iranian tension, saying, "Of course, our exercises did not have anything to do with the situation in Iran, but their organization indirectly echoed in that region."
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a strategic bomber introduced in 1987. It resembles the North American B-1B Lancer, but is larger and faster, being powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofans, the largest in any combat aircraft. It is not considered to be a stealth aircraft due to its exposed engine inlets and broad wing gloves.
According to Khvorov over the course of this year, two additional Tu-160s will be commissioned for the long-range strategic bomber fleet with the numerous upgrades, including the ability to launch cruise missiles, aviation bombs, and satellite communication.
- "Russian bombers flew undetected across Arctic - AF commander" — RIA Novosti, April 22, 2006
- "Russian warplanes entered Canadian radar zone unnoticed" — Interfax, April 22, 2006
- "Russians claim bomber flights over US territory went undetected" — Flight International, April 24, 2006
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February 26, 2024
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My daughter Natasha came up with this recipe and it's just delicious! It's a wonderfully sweet and spicy dish that's easy and quick to make on a night you don't feel much like cooking. It especially makes a wonderful meal on any winter evening when your bones just need warming up. We serve it with a simple side salad and if you've got it, a glass of nice wine goes well with it also. We … [Read More...]
It will be easy to choose the right spices, herbs, and food pairings with this handy list of what goes with what. I keep a printed copy taped to the inside of my spice cupboard for easy reference. Bitter Greens: Chicory, dandelion, radicchio, escarole, and endive. Season with garlic, olive oil, and bold vinegars. Pair with citrus fruit, hard boiled eggs, aged hard cheeses, and sweet, … [Read More...]
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It's the start of a new year and many of us have made resolutions we may or may not have already given up on. I gave up on making resolutions a long time ago but I do still try to make positive changes to my life on a regular basis. New information frequently makes me change something I'm doing or thinking. Which brings me to today's topic... Toxins! Specifically shower curtains and bath … [Read More...]
Happy New Year! Since today is the first day of the new year, I thought that something to lift body and your spirit was in order. With a few veggies and a few natural ingredients that you probably have on hand, you can give yourself a treat and help yourself put your best foot forward in the new year. Whether for olive oil soap to other natural and homemade beauty products, you'll be surprised … [Read More...]
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text: Click to expand Tap to zoom BELLANOVA Silver Queen Bed Save 17% Original price $1,151.40 Current price $959.50 | / Contact us to place an order on this item! Have a question? Contact Online Support We offer free pickup at any of our store locations. For Delivery, call us about our shipping rates for more info! BELLANOVA Silver Queen Bed, 88 1/8"L X 63 3/4"W X 65"H, 158.4lbs. Specifically designed to accentuate a glamorous feel, this bedroom collection brings a combination of class and contemporary style to your bedroom. Crocodile embossed veneer and silver lining panels stand out throughout every piece while the button t ufted headboard adds a charming effect. The headboard has built-in LED lights to illuminate the mood. Features: Contemporary Style Crocodile-Textured Detail Padded Leatherette H/B Felt-lined Top Drawers Diamond Crusted Bar Pull Handles Button Tufted Detail Solid Wood, Wood Veneer, Others


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Ancient writers largely agree that Ephesus was founded sometime between 1500 and 1000 B.C, and this is supported by archaeological evidence at the site. Later, it appears that Ionians settled in the cities of Ionia. According to legend, under the leadership of Androklos, son of Kodros, the migrants arrived in Anatolia, and asked their sages where their new city should be established.
The sages prophesied that a wild boar and a fish would lead them to the site of the new settlement. One day, Androklos, himself a new migrant from Greece, was cooking fish on an open fire, when a fish flew from the pan into the nearby bushes. Sparks from the fire also ignited the bushes, and as they flared up, a wild boar ran out of the bushes to escape from the flames. Androklos pursued and killed the boar. Then recalling the words of the wise men, he built his city on this site, which is at a place about 1200 metres west of the Artemision, where the original city of Ephesus was founded. The cities of Ionia were later joined together in a federation entitled the Ionian confederacy. Androklos, the city's first king, died in battle with the Carians, and the Ephesians erected a memorial to their first monarch. In the 7th century B.C, Ephesus was invaded by the Cimmerians, who razed the city to the ground, and burnt what they could, including the temple of Artemis. After this, Ephesus was ruled by a series of tyrants.
Throughout its later history, consequent to this early setback, Ephesus seemed protected from harm by the gods, and prospered either through chance or through the politics of its citizens. In the 6th century B.C, the Artemis temple was restored by the Lydian King, Croesus, who resettled the inhabitants of around the temple. But when Croesus was defeated in battle with the Persians Ephesus fell under Persian rule, along with the other cities of lonia. One of the most important features of the city was that it was an important port which served to link Sardis to Susa. The Ephesians used this factor to their own advantage in many ways. Miletus, for example, had been destroyed and burnt down during the Ionian invasion, although it had been a trade rival of Ephesus. By deciding not to support the Milesians, they both strengthened their own position, and improved trade opportunities.
Alexander the Great showed a great interest in this city as he passed through Anatolia, largely because of the significance he accorded to the temple of Artemis. After Alexander, a similar interest was shown by his commander Lysimachos, who had the city's harbour, which had already begun to silt up at that time, dredged of river silt. Thanks to his efforts, the city was able to carry on as a trading centre for some time. Lysimachos also helped to build a new Ephesus as a fortified town between Mt. Pion and Mt. Koressos. These fortifications had walls 10 metres high and covered an area 9 kms. in length. The city was further expanded by migrants who moved there from Lebedos and Colophon. It was during this period that Ephesus was adorned with a theatre, a staqium and a gymnasium.
In 88 B.C., the Ephesians allied with Mithridates, the ruler of Pontus against the Romans, and succeeded in killing thousands of Roman troops, but later began to realise the extent of the Roman strength and changed sides. This made them not only an ally of Rome, but also caused Rome to appoint Ephesus as the capital of the Asian province. Until the 1st century AD., the Ephesians enjoyed generally good relations with neighbouring states and with Rome, due to successful diplomacy. However, this did not protect them from the force of an earthquake which hit the city in 17 AD, and destroyed it completely. During the reign of the emperor Tiberius, the city was reconstructed and enlarged. Later, it was adorned with shrines and other buildings during the reign of Hadrian. The new city bore the definite seal of Roman architecture, in place of the Hellenistic city. It retained its political and mercantile supremacy during this period, and began to have religious significance during the Christian era, as it was said to have been the place of residence chosen by the mother of Christ after his crucifixion. However, the harbour began to silt up once again, and it gradually declined as a trading centre. Completely blocked with silt, the city became uninhabitable, and during the reign of the Emperor Justinian (527 -564 AD.) the inhabitants moved to the hills of Ayasoluk, where the same emperor built the basilica of St. John. The new settlement, which had been fortified, fell to the Turks in 1090.
Now let us visit the Museum of Ephesus to look at the statue of Artemis Ephesia, the altar of the Temple of Domitian, the Socrates frescos and the Theodosian reliefs from the temple of Hadrian. After studying these beautiful artefacts, we may move on to the basilica of St. John on the slopes of Ayasoluk. This magnificent basilica was built during the 6th century AD. by the emperor Justinian, and dedicated to St John. The entrance to the basilica was on the western façade, and the plan of the church was cruciform. The narthex was covered with a single cupola, and the church proper with six domes supported on columns. Under the central dome was situated the tomb of St John.
On the eastern end of the church were bays arranged in a semi-circle, used by the priests during ceremonies. The floors are mosaic, and to the north of the tomb are frescos on which are depicted several of the saints. In the centre is the figure of Christ, and to his left is that of St John and a priest The basilica has been restored several times, and on the capitals of several of the columns be seen the monograms of the Emperor Justinian and the empress Theodora. In 1869, an Englishman named Wood discovered the site of the Artemision. Excavations were carried out after this in 1904 by another Englishman named Hogarth. In 1895 the temple was first excavated by an Austrian team, and it is Austrians who are presently engaged in archeological work around the site.


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The budget season has officially commenced today with CBO's release of its annual budget and economic outlook. Here are some of the major takeaways from the report:
FY 2012 Budget
The topline figure that the media will focus on is the projected $1.070 trillion budget deficit for FY 2012, down from $1.3 trillion last year. However, as CBO notes several times throughout the report, the reduction in this year's deficit is predicated on several assumptions.
1) Revenues: The entirety of this year's deficit reduction comes from higher projected revenues, roughly $220 billion. CBO is forced to score current law, which assumes that the payroll tax cut will expire at the end of February. Another 10-month extension, which is almost a forgone conclusion, would cost over $100 billion. Also, the CBO baseline does not include a likely AMT patch, and extension of many annual "tax extenders," such as the credit for research and development. It's very likely that the extensions will wipe out the entire revenue gain from this year over 2011, thereby eliminating the reduction in the deficit.
2) Outlays: CBO is projecting $3.601 trillion in spending, up just $3 billion from last year. Obviously, this projection does not account for a full-year extension of unemployment benefits and doc fix, which could add as much as $70 billion to this year's spending total.
3) Defense: Outlays for defense will be reduced by another $20 billion.
When these factors are accounted for, it is clear that non-defense discretionary spending will not decrease significantly, while mandatory spending will continue to rise. If you assume the alternative scenario, in which most of the temporary tax and spending measures are extended, the deficit should be about the same as last year; around $1.3 trillion. In other words, there will be slightly more revenue this year, but increased spending as well.
10-Year Budget Frame: 2013-2022:
Over the next 10 years, CBO is projecting $41.179 trillion in revenues and $44.251 trillion in spending, for a deficit of $3.072 trillion. The $3 trillion figure is a real lowball estimate of our projected debt for several reasons. Under that scenario, our annual deficits would dip to $450 billion in just two years, and stay below $400 billion indefinitely. They are assuming rosy pictures of revenue increases, along with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Furthermore, CBO notes, that Medicare and Medicaid spending have always increased above expectations, and with Obamacare taking effect, the real cost of healthcare spending will blow out the budget deficits – way beyond $3 trillion.
Another important long-term factor is interest on the debt. At present, interest rates are at historic lows, but they will eventually revert back to their historic norms. That could add several trillion more to the 10-year deficit.
The rosy predictions for revenues and reduced healthcare spending can come to fruition, but not with the current socialist policies as the baseline.
Economic Outlook
CBO is projecting more stagnation for the next few years. For 2012, they are seeing 2% GDP growth and 8.9% unemployment. For 2013, they are projecting a pullback to just 1.1% growth and a spike in unemployment to 9.2%. With these bleak economic figures, it's hard to envision a scenario in which revenues increase substantially and spending on welfare programs decline (as projected by the report). How can revenues go from 16% of GDP to 20% in just two years, even without the extension of tax cut provisions? Then again, it's all a moot point. Budget deficits tend to be much higher than the figures projected in CBO reports, in part, due to some of the aforementioned factors.
Using the unlikely "current policy baseline," gross federal debt would rise to $21.7 trillion under CBO's projections. In the more likely "alternative fiscal scenario" gross federal debt rises to $29.4 trillion by 2022, 120% of GDP. The public share of the debt would reach $23.2 trillion, or 94% of GDP. Again, the GDP numbers, under current policies, are overly optimistic.
Social Security
Social Security is, by far, the largest expenditure for the foreseeable future. This year, SS outlays will top $770 billion, accounting for 21.3% of the entire federal budget for FY 2012. From 2013-2022, SS spending will top $10.5 trillion, almost 24% of the budget. On the revenue side, Social Security taxes will only rise $627 billion this year and $8.9 trillion over 10 years. Once again, this projection does not factor in any future payroll tax cuts.
Another noteworthy point is that the Social Security Disability Insurance trust fund will be exhausted in 2016.
Remember that the Social Security Trust Fund is a notional accounting gimmick and is nonexistent. Consequently, every penny of SS benefits that is not covered from the payroll tax will augment our deficit. The real question is why one quarter of the budget is consumed by a program that should be controlled by the individual. Why are we bankrupting our future for a program that offers a worse rate of return than private accounts, which would not cost the government and future generations of Americans a penny?
Gross Medicare spending, the second largest domestic spending program, will reach $560 billion this year and $7.8 trillion over 10 years. Net Medicare spending (subtracting $1.2 trillion in offsetting revenues from premium payments from seniors) will be about $6.55 trillion. This year's outlays would have been higher if not for a shift in certain payments from fiscal year 2012 into fiscal year 2011 because the first scheduled date for payments to health plans in 2012 fell on a weekend. Revenues from the Medicare payroll tax will only bring in roughly $2.8 trillion – and that is including the payroll tax increases under Obamacare. As such, the Medicare hospital insurance trust fund, which is funded by payroll taxes, will be exhausted in 2022.
Now that it is incontrovertibly clear that government has failed at controlling healthcare and retirement costs, is it too much to ask that we allow personal ownership and the free-market to get a bite at the apple?
Liberals always complain that seniors will be left to their own devices under our policies. Judging by the future debt figures, I think we would all rather be on our own, as opposed to shouldering the burden of crushing debt payments.
Cross-posted to The Madison Project


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You may have 3 dogs 4 months and older and/or 4 cats 4 months and older.
Show All Answers
For any incidents of aggressive and/or at-large animals, or if an animal is believed to be a victim of cruelty, but these situations are non-life-threatening, please call the Animal Services Unit. For all life-threatening situations, please call the Hopewell Police non-emergency number at 804-541-2275.
Yes. Residents of the city of Hopewell can turn in their animals Monday through Friday by appointment only. Owners of any animal being turned in are asked to provide vet records of the animal(s). Owners are also asked to bring a current identification showing proof of residence in the City of Hopewell.
Dogs and cats at the age of 4 months old are required to be vaccinated against rabies. A rabies shot can be given by any licensed veterinarian.
An animal's first rabies shot is good for 1 year. After the animal has received a 2nd-year shot, it will be valid for 3 years.
Yes. Cats and dogs are required to be registered with the City of Hopewell at the age of 4 months old.
This service is available at the City Treasurer's Officer at:300 N. Main StreetHopewell, VA 23860
You will have to provide a copy of your rabies certificate to the Treasurer.
The cost is $3 per year for animal(s) that are fixed and $8 per year for animal(s) that are not fixed. Lifetime animal license/city tag for fixed animals is $10; not fixed is $20.
For more information, see our New Animal Licenses Fees (PDF).
Yes. If a dog is running loose off of its property and/or not under the immediate control of the owner, then it is considered to be at large.
The first thing to do is talk with the neighbor who owns the dog. They may not be aware that their dogs are barking during certain hours, or that it is a disturbance. If the barking does not cease, animal services can visit the owner and advise them of the City's Ordinances against noise disturbances and legal actions that will be taken if it does not cease. It is helpful if you have made a log of the time of day when the dogs are especially noisy. We asked that if you are having a problem with a neighbor's dog still after speaking to them please contact an Animal Control Officer at 804-541-2204.


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